Industrial Management - May/June 2012

Contributors in this issue

Is management for your best people?By Dan CarrisonManagement deems it an honor to offer a promotion into its coveted ranks. But sometimes, the beaming execs are shocked when their top performers say, “No thanks.” They really shouldn’t be surprised in an era when managers often spend more resources on regulatory compliance than in helping their front-line staffers win battles in the competitive marketplace. But if you can associate management with action and offer the lure of slaying bigger dragons, your talented people will want to join the management team.

SEMS SaysBy the Society for Engineering and Management Systems BoardCharlene A. Yauch informs SEMS members about how their communications are receiving an upgrade. Larry Mallak describes how resilience during turbulent times can transform change from a danger to an opportunity.

The Hawthorne effect todayBy Chris PorterMore than eight decades after the initial experiments, the Hawthorne effect remains with us today. Technology and processes have advanced remarkably, but management still can apply techniques of psychological motivation to improve productivity, reduce defects and establish a culture for continuous improvement. Effective supervision can push employees to greater heights without the need for expensive technological solutions.

Going "all in" with your supply chainBy George F. Brown Jr.Some organizations are responding to supply chain disruptions by going “all in” with their suppliers. But such a heavy investment in a relationship only can be justified with suppliers that have a truly strategic importance to your business.

Conflict's here. What now?By Golnaz SadriConflict is part of human nature; therefore, it is prevalent in our organizations. Left unanalyzed and unchecked, it can be a destructive force that consumes time, money and human resources. Learning the various ways that people resolve conflict and expanding their conflict resolution styles can lead to better results.

Standardized injury prevention is on its wayBy John Gargiulo, Nick Gargiulo and Joe PerryThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Labor, is pushing to mandate that every U.S. company implement an illness injury prevention program known as an I2P2. Such regulations are in place in California and other states. Data collection and analysis will be key components in corporate efforts to track injuries and illnesses, along with figuring out trends and changing processes to prevent such problems.